Accused Bonnie and Clyde killer's mom big in business, politics

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Accused Bonnie and Clyde killer's mom big in business, politics
Author of the articleostmedia News
Publishing date:Mar 09, 2021 • 2 hours ago • 2 minute read • comment bubble18 Comments
Yun (Lucy) Lu Li of Toronto is wanted for first-degree murder.
Yun (Lucy) Lu Li of Toronto is wanted for first-degree murder. PHOTO BY YUN (LUCY) LU LI /INSTAGRAM
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While the suspected Millennial Bonnie and Clyde killers remain on the run, political chickens have come home to roost.

Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and Oliver Karafa, 28, are wanted for first-degree murder in a Stoney Creek double shooting that left Tyler Pratt, 39, of British Columbia, dead.


So far, cops aren’t saying what the motive was for the Feb. 28 shooting that also left a 26-year-old woman wounded.

Tyler Pratt was the third murder in Hamilton in 2021.
Tyler Pratt was the third murder in Hamilton in 2021. PHOTO BY HANDOUT /HAMILTON POLICE
Now, it has emerged that Li is the daughter of a prominent Chinese-Canadian businesswoman.

Li’s mother, Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao, runs financial-management business Respon International Group, is well-known in the charity circuit, and appears to have political ties.

One photo on her company’s website is of her shaking hands with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while on a Chinese-language website she is pictured with Premier Doug Ford.

Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a photo on her company’s website.
Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a photo on her company’s website.
Our sister newspaper, The National Post, reports that Liao held fundraisers for Trudeau in 2016.

The murder has stunned the Chinese-Canadian community, the Post said.

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Hamilton Police have issued first-degree murder warrants for Oliver Karafa, 28,left, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25.
Hamilton Police have issued first-degree murder warrants for Oliver Karafa, 28,left, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25. Photo by HANDOUT /HAMILTON POLICE
Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, is accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 28, 2021 shooting in Stoney Creek that killed Tyler Pratt, 39, and wounded a 26-year-old woman.
Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, is accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 28, 2021 shooting in Stoney Creek that killed Tyler Pratt, 39, and wounded a 26-year-old woman. Instagram
Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, is accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 28, 2021 shooting in Stoney Creek that killed Tyler Pratt, 39, and wounded a 26-year-old woman.
Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, is accused of first-degree murder in the Feb. 28, 2021 shooting in Stoney Creek that killed Tyler Pratt, 39, and wounded a 26-year-old woman. Instagram
Oliver Karafa (middle), then 19, faced charges (later convicted) of criminal negligence causing death and impaired driving causing death when he was released on bail and left the College Park courts with his parents, sister and lawyer (left) on Thursday, April 5, 2012.
Oliver Karafa (middle), then 19, faced charges (later convicted) of criminal negligence causing death and impaired driving causing death when he was released on bail and left the College Park courts with his parents, sister and lawyer (left) on April 5, 2012. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters Instagram
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters Instagram
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters Instagram
Oliver Karafa, then 19, leaves College Park courts on April 5, 2012 after receiving bail in a deadly drunk driving crash.
Oliver Karafa, then 19, leaves College Park courts on April 5, 2012 after receiving bail in a deadly drunk driving crash. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters Instagram
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters
Accused killer Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and her sisters Instagram
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“We are deeply shocked, disturbed and puzzled by Lucy’s involvement in the unfortunate incident,” the family said in a translated version of the statement to Chinese-language media.

Her family proclaims their love and belief in her innocence but encouraged her to surrender and co-operate with Hamilton Plice.


Described as “high-profile” and “powerful,” Winnie Liao has also appeared in photos with Han Tao, China’s consul general to Toronto, the Post reported.

Prior to being a wanted fugitive, Lucy Li was an Instagram frequent flier, often posing with her two sisters (they’re triplets) in barely-there bikinis and lingerie.

One sister, Kaitlyn, was a contestant in Miss World Toronto last year.

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Hamilton Police have issued first-degree murder warrants for Oliver Karafa, 28, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25.
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Hamilton Police have issued first-degree murder warrants for Oliver Karafa, 28, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25.
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The triplets also founded the Canada Youth Funding Association when they were 13, “in hopes of uniting all children to learn, grow, educate, experience, and create anything their hearts desire.”

It is one of the Respon charity gala’s beneficiaries.

Accused Bonnie and Clyde killer's mom big in business, politics

Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and Oliver Karafa, 28, are wanted for first-degree murder in a Stoney Creek double shooting that left Tyler Pratt dead

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Daughter of high-profile Toronto businesswoman and political fundraiser charged with murder
Yun Lu 'Lucy' Li, 25, and her boyfriend Oliver Karafa, 28, have so far eluded capture after fleeing the scene

Author of the article:Tom Blackwell
Publishing date:Mar 09, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 4 minute read • comment bubbleJoin the conversation
Police in Hamilton, Ont., have issued warrants for Yun Lu (Lucy) Li and Oliver Karafa after a fatal shooting last week.
Police in Hamilton, Ont., have issued warrants for Yun Lu (Lucy) Li and Oliver Karafa after a fatal shooting last week. PHOTO BY FACEBOOK; HAMILTON POLICE
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The Toronto area’s Chinese-Canadian community is abuzz this week after the daughter of a high-profile and politically connected local businesswoman was charged with murder along with her boyfriend.

Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and Oliver Karafa, 28, have so far eluded capture after fleeing the scene in a late-model Land Rover, say police in Hamilton, Ont.

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A Vancouver man, Tyler Pratt, 39, was killed and a woman, 26, injured in the Feb. 28 shooting behind a building in an industrial part of the city.

All four were known to each other and were “associates,” said Hamilton Police Service spokeswoman Jackie Penman Tuesday.

Mother Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao runs financial-management business Respon International Group, holds a glitzy annual charity gala and seems to have ties to both local politicians and Chinese diplomats in Canada.

A photo of her shaking hands with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is featured prominently on the company’s website. On a Chinese-language news site, she’s featured with Doug Ford, Ontario’s Conservative premier.

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A 2016 media report said Liao had held fundraising events for Trudeau at a time when the Liberals faced stiff criticism over alleged cash-for-access gatherings.

We are deeply shocked, disturbed and puzzled

Before becoming wanted on murder charges, the daughter attracted attention for much different reasons. Lucy Li is a triplet, and one of her sisters was a contestant in Miss World Toronto last year, while all three daughters appear together online modelling swimwear, lingerie and other clothes.

They have also been credited with helping found a group called Canadian Youth Funding Association, one of the Respon charity gala’s beneficiaries.

Liao could not be reached for comment by phone or text Monday. An employee at her company’s office said she was traveling to Vancouver.

But in a statement issued to Chinese-language media, the suspect’s family offered its condolences to the victims and their families.

“We are deeply shocked, disturbed and puzzled by Lucy’s involvement in the unfortunate incident,” said a translated version of the statement.

In a part of the message aimed directly at Lucy Li, family members say they love her and believe in her innocence, but urge her to co-operate with the authorities.

Two sources in the Toronto-area community of mainland-Chinese immigrants say the case is being followed closely because of the mother’s prominent role in that population.

“She goes everywhere. She’s very high profile, since a long time ago,” said one acquaintance of Liao’s, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. “Many people discuss and talk about her …She’s very kind of powerful.”

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Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao runs Respon International Group, holds a glitzy annual charity gala and seems to have ties to both local politicians and Chinese diplomats in Canada. A photo of her with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is featured prominently on the company’s website.
Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao runs Respon International Group, holds a glitzy annual charity gala and seems to have ties to both local politicians and Chinese diplomats in Canada. A photo of her with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is featured prominently on the company’s website. PHOTO BY RESPON.COM
Hamilton police have said relatively little about the shooting, indicating that passersby came across a woman suffering from a gunshot wound early the evening of Feb. 28 in the Stoney Creek neighbourhood. When police responded to a call about the woman, they found Pratt’s body nearby, Staff Sgt. Jim Callender told reporters last week.

Callender said the suspects left the scene in what appeared to be a white, newer-model Land Rover, which police later recovered. Charges against Li and Karafa were announced four days later, but police say the pair appear to have departed the Toronto-Hamilton area.

“As with any investigation, those who knowingly assist individuals involved in an offence to evade police may be arrested and charged with a separate offence,” Penman said Tuesday.
According to Liao’s acquaintance, she immigrated to Canadian about 20 years ago from China’s Hunan province, settling first in the Toronto area. She built Respon, described in a 2018 promotional article as having offices in 13 cities from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver.

The firm specializes in asset allocation, family property inheritance and asset-maximization and tax strategy, becoming one of the top achievers in the London Life insurance company’s Freedom 55 program, said the article.

Liao has also left at least a financial mark in the political world. A woman by her name made donations to the Liberal party totalling about $20,000 between 2014 and 2019, Elections Canada’s database indicates.

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A 2016 Globe and Mail article said she had held several fundraisers for Trudeau, suggesting it was part of a campaign by the party to seek donations from wealthy Chinese Canadians.

The controversy led the Liberals to institute reforms to their fundraising policies, which they say are now more transparent and accountable than those of any other party.

Liao has appeared in photographs with Han Tao, China’s consul general to Toronto.

A note on the website of the country’s Vancouver consulate mentions a visit by the businesswoman to the mission in 2016. It acknowledges her company’s support for “overseas Chinese” groups in the area, and for promoting Chinese culture and exchanges between the Chinese community and other ethnic groups.

The triplets appear in sometimes-racy photographs together on Reddit pages, one of which has more than 90,000 followers, modelling skimpy clothing of various sorts.

Lucy’s sister Kaitlyn was one of 44 finalists in the Canadian branch of the Miss World 2020 pageant. She says she and the other triplets founded the Canada Youth Funding Association when just 13, “in hopes of uniting all children to learn, grow, educate, experience, and create anything their hearts desire.”

The organization is featured in the annual Respon Charity Banquet, which once included a performance by members of Cirque du Soleil, according to online accounts. Liberal MP Jean Yip described it as a “spectacular evening” on Twitter.

(9:00 a.m. March 9: Corrects name of Canada Youth Funding Association.)

• Email: tblackwell@postmedia.com | Twitter: tomblackwellNP

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Daughter of high-profile Toronto businesswoman and political fundraiser charged with murder

Yun Lu 'Lucy' Li, 25, and her boyfriend Oliver Karafa, 28, have so far eluded capture after fleeing the scene

torontosun.com